Oil Pipeline Fuels War in Afghanistan

Re "Afghanistan Aims to Revive Pipeline Plans," May 30: I wonder if average Americans understand that oil is the real reason we are in Afghanistan and that our sons and daughters are fighting for that cause. Breaking up the Taliban and Al Qaeda was necessary for stabilization in installing an oil pipeline through Afghanistan to the oil-rich Caspian Sea Basin. There's so much more to this story, and I hope newspapers start printing what a lot of us have been talking about for the last year.

Libby Breen

Altadena

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I would be delighted to spend my taxes on supporting and stabilizing all of Afghanistan if only the oil companies, whose interests are being served by our presence in this sorry country, were also paying their fair share of taxes.

I just cannot understand our rush to defend and support all oil-rich countries, or the countries needed to get oil to market. They need our marketplace just as much--if not more--as we need their oil. There is enough oil on the market, with enough variety in countries that produce oil, that we can always find a supply.